Apparatus for distributing filamentary material into coil form



March 22, 1960 Filed May 18, 1955 mmvroa G. E. HENN/NG i' BY A T 7DRNEY March 22, 1960 G. E. HENNING v APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO COIL FORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1955 //VVE N TOR a. E. HENN/NG A 7%ORNEY March 22, 1960 G. E. HENNING 2,929,574

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO CQIL FORM Filed May 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZNVENTOR. G. E. Hli'iVN/NG March 22, 1960 G. E. HENNING APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO COIL FORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 18, 1955 INVENTOR E. HENNM/G (i4 TIOR/VEV March 22, 1960 G. E. HENNING 2,929,574

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO COIL FORM Filed May 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS INVENTOR. G. E HE/VN/NG.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO COIL FORM George E. Henning, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,209

Claims. (Cl. 242-82) This invention relates to apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, and more particularly to apparatus for distributing wire into stationary receivers in a coil.

In the past, after electrically-conductive wires have had some operation performed thereon, such as a wire-drawing or an insulation-covering operation, the wires usually have been Wound on a rotatably mounted reel. Metal drums, in which the wire is coiled have been used in some instances. Recently it became desirable to use sturdy fiber containers in which to coil wire. Such containers have advantages due to their being light in weight and easy to handle. They provide protection for the wire during shipment, and the wire can be withdrawn therefrom readily.

Various apparatus have been developed to feed wire into these fiber containers, and, as far as is known, each apparatus required that the containers be rotated continuously in order to distribute the wire within the con tainer. Continuous rotation of the containers has obvious disadvantages in that such rotation must be syn chronized with the wire feeding means, and the container must be designed to stand up under high revolving speeds. Another disadvantage is that separate capstans must be used for drawing the wire through the apparatus that is performing the operation thereon, and for feeding the wire to the revolving container.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for distributing wire into stationary receivers in a coil.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for distributing wire, wherein a capstan that draws the wire through apparatus performing some operation on the wire also is used to distribute the wire into a stationary container in a coil.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for continuously distributing a predetermined amount of filamentary material into each of a succession of containers in coil form.

An apparatus, illustrating certain features of the invention, may include means for continuously feeding a length of filamentary material into space. Means are provided for revolving at least those portions of the feeding means which are last to contact the material about the axis of a coil to be formed in the direction opposite to that in which the material is being fed so that the material is distributed along a descending helical path to form a coil.

The advancing means may comprise a belt-type capstan including a rotary capstan wheel engaging the material, a plurality of sheaves spaced around the capstan wheel, and an endless belt wound around the sheaves and engaging the peripheral surface of the capstan wheel. The belt holds the material in driving contact with the capstan wheel over an are on the periphery thereof, so that the ice material is fed by the rotation of the capstan wheel. Ac' cording to one embodiment of the invention, the sheaves are revolved around the periphery of the capstan wheel in the direction opposite to that in which the capstan is rotating in, order to enable distribution in coil form. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the entire belt-type capstan unit is revolved about an external axis, which is coincident with the axis of the coil to be formed. v

Preferably, the speed of revolution is substantially the same as the speed at which the material is being fed. An open-topped container may be mounted beneath the capstan to collect the material in coil form. According to other features of the invention, cutting means are mounted adjacent to the point where the material leaves the capstan and accumulating means are positioned between the capstan and the container. With this arrangement, when it is desired to change over from a first container to another after a predetermined amount of the material has been collected in the first container, the cutting means are actuated to sever the material and the accumulating means are operated to collect succeeding portions of the material in coil form. Then, the first container is removed from material-receiving position and the other container is substituted therefor, whereupon the accumulating means are released to permit the acculated coil to drop into the second container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partially in section, showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a metering apparatus and an associated electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2; p

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partially in section, of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

First embodiment along Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a container 10 is provided to receive a wire 11, which is to be coiled within the container 10 around a cylindrical core 12 at the center of the container. The container 10 may be made of fibrous material, but anyv suitable material may be used in its construction. The container '10 is shown in its correct wire-receiving position below a platform 15 supported by a plurality of vertical channel irons 16-46. A vertical, hollow shaft 17 is rotatably mounted by a bearing 20 at the center of the platform 15, and the wire 11 is passed therethrough. The shaft 17 is rotated by a motor 21, through a gear box 22, an output shaft 23 extending from the gear box and a chain 24, which engages a sprocket 25 on the output shaft 23 and a sprocket 26 on the hollow shaft 17. I

The wire 11 passes through a pair of metering rollers 2828 of a metering device, designated generally by the numeral 29, and then is directed downwardly through the hollow shaft 17. The metering device 29 is a conventional one of the type shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, wherein a cam-operated switch 91 is closed after a predetermined length of wire has passed through the rollers 3 a? ti naryr in g a 3 sg sumdfifih-wil lower side of the platform by any suitable means, such as welding. The ring gear is adjacent to the lower end 'of ,the hollow shaft 17, which end terminates with a reduced, hollow, and threaded stub 31. A circular plate 32 is secured to the stub 31 by a nut 33. a V a A plurality of spur gears 353 5 are mountedrotatably u on the upper side of the plate 32, and mesh with the ring gear 30. A plurality of sleeves 36-36 depend from the p ate 32 and are secured thereto by welding, for example. The lower-ends of the sleeves 36-36 are secured, by welding or other suitable means, to a circular plate 37. Rotatably mounted'within the sleeves 36-36 are a plurality of shafts 40-40 secured at their upper ends to the spur gears 35-35. A plurality of spur gears 41-41 are secured to the lower ends of the shafts 40-40, whereby rotation of the upper spur, gears 35-35 cause rotation of the lower spur gears 41-41. a

.Arod 42, which has reduced and threaded ends 43 '44 is secured to the plate 37 by a nut 45 engaging I 4 the space between the deflecting member 71 and the container 10. a

As seen in Fig. 3, the energizing coils of the four solenoids 81-8-1 shown in Fig. 2 are connected to the circuit within the metering device 29 so that whenthe camoperated switch 91 therein closes, due to a predetermined t li end 43. An inner ball bearing race 46 is secured rotation imparted to the ring gear by the spur gears 41-41 is also impartedto the capstan wheel 52. j A plurality of sheaves 56,57 and 58 (Fig. 2) are secured rotatably to the circular plate 37 by suitable bearfsltitute a belt-type capstan designated generally by the" humeral 63, which capstan is the means for advancing or feeding the wire 10. V

In using the apparatus, the wire -11to be coiled is fed throughthe center' of the hollow shaft 17. A'sheave '65 is mounted rotatably ojn the upper side ..of the plate 37, and is designed to receive the wire 11 after it passes through the hollow shaft 17 and to direct the wire to a second sheave 66. The sheave 66 is secured rotatably within a notch 67 formed in the plate 37, and is designed to receive the wire 11 from the sheave and to direct the wire toward the grooved capstan wheel 52. The wire 11 will be held in driving contact with the capstan wheel length of wire 11 having passed through. the rollers 28-28, an energizing voltage of predetermined magnitude is applied across the coils.- The metering device 29 includes a cam 92 driven through a suitable speed reducing mechanism 93in predetermined synchronisrn with the metering rollers 28-28 so that an apex 94 of the cam 92 operates to close momentarily the switch 91 whenever the predetermined amount of the wire 11 has passed the metering rollers 28-28. When the switch 91 is so closed, a voltage is applied from a source 95, through a latching relay 96 to energize simultaneously each of the four solenoids 81-81 to operate the pivoted rods -75.

A cutting {mechanism 86, (Fig; 2) is secured to the lower side of the plate 37 for rotation 'therewith. 1 The cutting mechanism 86 has a movable blade 87, which may. be energized by a solenoid 8 8 to cooperate with fixed blade secured to the lower side vof the plate 37 to sever the wire' 11. Since the solenoid 88 is necessarily mounted for rotation, suitable contact rings 97-97 and brushes 98-98 of conventional design, seen inthe circuit diagram ofFig. 3, are provided to supply an energizing voltage thereto. Twoof the brushes 98-98 are connected in' series withthecam-operated switch 91 across the voltage source withinthe metering appara ms 29, whichenergiz'es the solenoids 81-81 so that the solenoids 81-81 and 88 are energized simultaneously after a predetermined length of wire 11 has passed through the rollers 28-28. 1

Operation of first embodiment counterclockwise direction, as viewed in 'Fig. 2. The plate 32 then will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction,

a and will carry the upper spur gears 35-35 in a, counter clockwise path around the ring gear 30. The upper, spur 52 by the belt 62fover the whole of a continuous are extending about along the periphery of the capstan wheel 52.

Apluralityof horizontal angle irons 70-70 are sec ed to the vertical channelir'ons 16-16. A cylindrical shell like deflecting member 71 having a flange 72 around the upper end thereof is fixedly secured to the angle irons 70-70. When a container 10 isin its wirei'eceivingposition, the lower end of the deflecting member- 71 is spaced a predetermined distance above the ripper end of the container. ,A plurality of rods 75-75,

havingcurved lowerends 76-76, are pivotally secured to the deflecting member by pins 77-77.

An armature 80 of asolenoid 81 is'connected to each rod75 by a pin 82, which'is secured to the end of each armature 80 and passes through a slot 83 in each rod.

Whenthesolenoids 81-81 are de-energized, the rods gears 35-35 will consequently rotate about theirv own ares, on the shafts 40-40, in a counterclockwise direction, and similar rotation will beimparted to the lower spur gears 41-41, attached to the lower ends of the shafts 40-40. Since the lower-plate 37 is rigidly connected by the sleeves 36-36 to the rotating upper plate 32, and since the sheaves 56, 57 311(1'58 are connected by the bearings 61-61 to the lower plate 37, the sheaves will be revolved in a counterclockwise direction around the axis of the plate 37 and adjacent to the periphery of the capstan wheel 52. The idler belt 62, which is held against the periphery of the capstan wheel 52 by the sheaves 56, 57 and 58, will, revolve also around the capstan wheel 52in a counterclockwise direction, since the belt 62 is carried by these three sheaves. Similarly, the guide sheaves 65 and and the cutting'apparatus 86, being carried by the plate 37, will revolve in acounterclockwise direction about the same axis so that the'wirc 11 will always be fed to the belt-type capstan 63 near the revolving sheave 56 and so that the cutting apparatus 86 will always be positioned near the wire-discharge point adjacent to the sheave 58. I

When the gear ratio between the upper, fi xed ring gear 30 and the upper spur gears 35-35 is greater than the gear ratio between the lower, rotatably-mounted ring gea'r55 and-the lower spur gears 41-41, rotation will be imparted to the lower ring gear 55 in a clockwise direction. Since the capstan wheel 52 is secured to the lower ring gear 55, rotation in a clockwise direction will be imparted to the capstan wheel 52. Consequently, the wire 11, being pressed against the grooved capstan wheel 52 by the belt 62, will be pulled around a continuous are on the periphery of the capstan wheel 52 in a clockwise direction.

Thus, the wire 11 is discharged into space in a generally clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by the belt-type capstan 63 due to the clockwise rotation of the capstan wheel 52. As seen in Fig. 2, the wire 11 leaves the capstan 63 near the point of tangency between the sheave 58 and the capstan wheel 52, where the belt 62 ceases-to contact the wire 11. As previously mentioned, the sheaves 56, 57 and 58 and the belt 62 revolve, as a unit, in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the plate 37, which axis is coincident with the axis of the coil to be formed in the container 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Therefore, the point where the wire 11 leaves the belttype capstan 63, near the point of tangency between the sheave 58 and the capstan wheel 52, is revolved about the axis of the coil to be formed in the opposite direction to that-in which the wire 11 is being advanced by the capstan' 63. Stated otherwise, those portions of the belt-type capstan 63 which are last to contact the wire 11 are revolved about the axis of the coil to be formed in the opposite direction to that in which the wire is discharged. With this arrangement, the wire 11 is continuously distributed along a descending helical path to form a coil in the container 10.

Preferably the gear ratio between the upper ring gear 30 and the spur gears 35-35 is 4:1 and that between the lower ring gear 55 and the spur gears 41--41 is 2:1. With this arrangement, the wire 11 will be ,fed by the belt-type capstan 63 at exactly the same rate that the sheaves 56, 57 and 58 are revolving around the periphery of the capstan 52. Hence, the wire 11 will be distributed into the container in a helical path having a radiussubstanfially equal to the radius of the capstan wheel 52. Centrifugal force will tend to increase this radius, but the deflecting member 71, which has a smaller diameter than that of the container 10, serves to direct the wire 11 in a path between the inner wall of the container 10 and the core 12. The wire 11 will be fed around the core 12, will fall into the container 10. and build up a coil thereof within the container to any desired height.

j. The amount of wire 11 being coiled within the container 10 is determined by the metering device 29. When a predetermined amount of wire has passed through the metering rollers 28-28 and has been coiled in the container 10, the switch 91 within the metering device 29-is closed to apply energizing voltages across the solenoids 8181 and 88. As seen in Fig. 3, the solenoid 88 is energized asthe apex 94 of the cam 92 momentarily closes the switch 91 to complete a circuit from the Voltage source 95, through the now-closed, cam-operated switch 91, through one brush 98, one contact ring 97 and a second brush 98, thence through the coil of the solenoid 88, and back through a third brush 98, the other contact ring 97, and the last brush 98 to the source 95. Energizing the solenoid 88 causes the blade 87 to move toward the fixed blade90 and to sever the wire 11 as it travels in a path between the blades. The solenoid 88 that energizes the cutting mechanism 36 must be of a type that swiftly actuates the movable blade 87 to sever the wire 11 and quickly de-energizes to withdraw the blade 87 from the path of the continuously moving wire 11.

.At the same time, the metering apparatus 29 energizes the solenoids 8181 to place the curved ends 76-76 of the rods 7575 into the space between the cylindrical shell 71 and the upper end of the container 10. As seen in Fig. 3, the solenoids 81-81 are likewise energized upon momentary closure of the switch 91 by the apex 94 of the cam 92, as an operating circuit is completed from the source 95, through the now-closed, cam-open ated switch 91, through the coil of the latching relay 96, to the four solenoids 81-81 in parallel, and back to the source 95. Upon energization by the momentary closure of the canroperated switch 91, the relay 96 latches in through'closure of its contact 99, establishing a holding circuit to maintain energization of the relay 96, and thus the solenoids 8181, through a normally-closed, manually-operated, reset switch 100. In this manner, the solenoids 81-81 will remain energized and their associatedaccumulating rods 7 5-75 will remain pivoted into their wire accumulating positions for as long as desired, even though the switch 91 reopens due to travel of the apex 94 of the cam 92 past the point of operation of the switch 91 as more wire is distributed.

The capstan wheel 52 will continue to rotate and feed the severed leading end and the following increments of the wire 11 toward the position where the container 10 rests. However, the wire being fed by the capstan wheel 52, instead of going into the container 10, is caught and supported by the curved ends 7676 of the rods ---75 until the filled container can be removed from its wirereceiving position beneath the cylindrical shell 71 and an empty container can be replaced therefor. When an empty container is so placed, the holding circuit energizing the solenoids 81-81 is de-energized manually by opening the reset switch 100, and the rods 75-75 return to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1. The coils of wire 11 that have accumulated on the curved ends 76-76 fall by gravity to the bottom of the empty container 10 and the wire is coiled therein to any predetermined height as before.

Second embodiment The distributor shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, is designed to coil a wire 111 into a container of the type described in reference to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. In a similar manner, a cylindrical core 112 is preferably provided in the center of the container 110, and a deflecting member 171 is positioned thereabove. A structure to catch and support the wire while changing containers, similar to that used in the preferred embodiment, also is positioned above the container in like manner, the corresponding pivoted rods being designated by the numerals 175175 and the operating solenoids by the numerals 181131 in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, instead of rotatably mounting a hollow shaft like the shaft 17 of Figs. 1 and 2 to a platform supporting the distributor-driving mechanism, a vertical, hollow shaft 117 is fixedly secured thereto, through which the wire 111 is passed. A supporting ring 101 having a sprocket 1132 around the periphery thereof is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 117 by a suitable bearing 105. The supporting ring 101 is rotated by a motor 121 through a chain 124 that engages the sprocket 102. A circular plate 106 is rotatably mounted about the fixed shaft 117 by a suitable bearing 107 and is further supported by a plurality of adjustable rods 109-409 that are connected between the supporting ring 101 and the plate 106.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a beveled sun gear 113 is secured to the fixed shaft 117. A horizontal shaft 114 is rotatably mounted within suitable bearings 116-116 secured to the plate 106. A beveled gear 118, which meshes with the fixed sun gear 113, is secured to one end of the shaft 114, and a grooved capstan wheel 119 is secured to the other end of the shaft 114 for rotation 1 therewith. A plurality of sheaves 120, 122 and 123 are The capstan wheel 119, the belt 127, and the sheaves 120,.

122 and 123, considered together as a unit, constitute a estates e Two conductive rings 135- 135 are mounted on the fixed shaft 117 and cooperate with'two brushes 136136 which are secured .to a brush holder 137 attached to the rotating plate 106. A pair of lead wires -140'1'40 are connected from the brushes 136-T136 to a solenoid 141, which is attached to the lower side of the plate 106 and which energizes a movable cutting blade 142. The movable blade 142 cooperates with a fixed blade 1-45 to sever the wire 111 at a predetermined point and is actuated by a metering device,- designated generally by the numeral using. 4).- a a r Thewirelll ispassed between a pair of metering roller s 128-128 which are rotatably securedto the metering apparatus 129.. andwhich cause a switch (similar to the cam-operated switch 91 shown in Fig. 3) therein to close. Closing ofv the switch energizes a circuit similar to the circuit shown in Fig. 3 which applies a voltage to the solenoid 141 to severthe wire 111, and which energizes simultaneously the solenoids 181-481 to pivot the rods 175- 175 to catch and support the wire 111 while the container 110 is being replaced, as describedhereinbefore with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The operation of the metering device 129 and associated circuitry is substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 3 respecting the metering device 29 of the first embodiment ofthe invention.

'Operat io iz of second embodiment The wire 111, after having had some prior operation performed thereon, is passed through the rollers 128-128,

down through the fixed hollow shaft 117, brought around the sheaves 130, 131 and 132, and passedbetween the belt 127 and the groove in the capstan wheel 119. The wire is held within the groove in thecapstan wheel119 by the belt 127 and is pulled around the periphery of the capstan wheel 119 from a point near the sheave 129,

Past the sheave 122 and emerges from its position between the belt 127 and the groove in the capstan wheel 119 at a point near the sheave 123. The cutting blades 142 and 145 are on opposite s idesof the path of the wire 111 near this exit point. i

To distribute wire within the container, the motor 121 is energized to rotate the supporting ring 1131, and, hence,

, of these rates is merely a matter ofdesign and aeeeaas upon the relative sizes of the gear 113, the gear 118 and the capstan wheel 119, and the length of the shaft 114, The distance frorn the axis of the 'shaft.117 to the point near the sheave 123 wherethe wire 111 emerges from its position between the belt 127 and thegroov'e'inthe ea stan wheel 119 should be substantially the mean radius between the inside radius of the container 110 and that of the cylindrical core 112 in the center thereof. 3 H After a predetermined amount of wire has been fed through the metering'rollers 128*128,'the metering a'p paratus 129 is actuated thereby to applyaj voltage across the rings 135 135. This voltage is appliedthrough circuitry similarto that shown in Fig. 3 across the, brushes 136-436 to energize the solenoid'1-41' and cause the movable cutting blade 142 to cooperate with the fixed been provided for revolving the point where the material leaves the capstan about the axis of the coil to be formed inthe opposite direction to that in which the material] is being advanced: (1 in the first embodiment, by revolving the sheaves about the rotating capstan wheel in the opposite direction; and (2 in the second embodiment,

by revolving the entire belt-type capstanabout an ex-' ternal axis coincident with the axis of the coil, ,while rotating the capstan wheel to feed the materiaL,

It is to be understood tht the above-described ar rangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles ofv this invention, Numerous other arrangernents may be'devised by those skilled in the which will embody the principles of the invention and. fall within the spirit and scope thereof. I

What is claimed is: v

1; Apparatus fordistribliting a filamentary material of indefinite length uniformly into. a container, which com prises a capstan for continuouslyadvancing a' length of such a material, means for causing those portions of the capstan which are'last to contact the material to revolve about a given axis so that the material advanced by the jacent to the point where. the material leaves-the capstan for severing the material, a deflecting member's??- cured between the capstan and the upper end of the conthe plate 106 which is directly connected thereto by the V rods 109'109. Assuming that the plate 106 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, the entire belt-type capstan 1'63'car'ricd thereby will be revolved about the axis of the fixed shaft 117, which axis is coincident with the axis of ceiling as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus, the shaft 114 will be revolved about an axis coincidental with the axis of the fixed shaft 117fi'n a clockwise direction, so that the beveled gear'118 which is attached to the inner end of the shaft 114 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. Rota- "tien in a counterclockwise direction is,- therefore, itnparted to the capstan wheel 119. The wire 111 will be fed by the belt-t pe capstan 163 into the container 110,

and, since the entirebe'lt-type capstan 163jis revolving about the axis coincidental with the shaft 117 in the di-.

section opposite to that in which the wirelll is being fed the axis of the shaft 117, in order that coils of wire be correctly formed in the container 110. The attainment tainer for directing the wire into the-container, a plurality of rods having curved ends secured pivotallyto the nefleeting member, and means for actuating the cutting means and for actuating the rods to place the curved ends thereof in'the path of the material to accumulate the material. a I

2. Apparatus for distributing a filamentary material of indefinite length uniformly into a container in the form of a coil, whichcornprises a rotary capstan wheel,grip-' per belt means for holding the material against the cap- 60.

stan wheel and over an are on the periphery thereof so that material is positively advanced by the rotation of the capstan wheel, means for revolving the gripper belt means about the capstan wheel in the direction opposite to that in which the capstan wheel is rotating so that the material is distributed into the container in coil rem, cutting means secured rotatably near the point where the material leaves the capstan; wheel, accumulating means secured above said container and designed to be placed the rover, and means to actuate the cutting meats and the accumulating means when a. predetermined amount of material has been coiled within the container.

3. Apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a platform, a flied ring gear secured to the platform, a hollow shaft through which the material is passed rotatably secured to thcplatform, a first plate attached to one end of the shaft and rotatable therewith, a first plurality of gears rotatably mounted on the first plate and designed to mesh with the fixed ring gear, a second plate spaced from and secured to the first plate, a second plurality of gears rotatably secured to the second plate and driven by the first plurality of gears, a second ring gear mounted rotatably with respect to the second plate and designed to mesh with the second plurality of gears and to be driven thereby, a capstan wheel secured to the rotatable ring gear, a plurality of sheaves secured rotatably to the second plate and adjacent to the periphery of the capstan wheel, a belt wound endlessly around the sheaves and running against the material on the peripheral surface of the capstan wheel for holding the material in driving contact therewith over the whole of a continuous arc on the periphery thereof, and means for rotating the hollow shaft for causing the material to be fed by the capstan wheel and for revolving the sheaves about the capstan wheel.

4. Apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a base, a ring gear secured to the base, a capstan wheel mounted rotatably on the base for advancing the material, a planetary gear secured to the capstan wheel and designed to mesh with the ring gear, and means for driving the planetary gear around the ring gear, whereby. the material advanced by the capstan wheel is simultaneously distributed along a circular path.

5. Apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a platform, a fixed ring gear fixedly secured to and depending from the platform, a plate secured rotatably to said platform, a capstan wheel secured rotatably to the plate, a shaft mounted rotatably upon the plate and attached to the wheel at one end thereof, a planetary gear secured to the other end of the shaft and designed to mesh with the ring gear, and means for rotating the plate to cause the wheel to advance the material and to revolve the capstan wheel about the axis of the ring gear.

6. Apparatus for distributing a filamentary material of indefinite length uniformly into a container in the form of a coil, which comprises a material-advancing means including a capstan wheel, a plurality of sheaves secured rotatably adjacent to the periphery of the capstan wheel, and a gripper belt wound endlessly around said sheaves and against the periphery of the capstan wheel to hold the material against the capstan wheel so that the material is positively advanced thereby, means to revolve the material-advancing means about the axis of the coil to be formed in the container, cutting means secured to the revolving means and in the path of the material near the point where the material leaves the capstan wheel, a deflecting member secured between the material-advancing means and the upper end of the container, accumulating means movably secured to the deflecting member and normally out of the path of the coiled material, and means actuated by the material for energizing the cutting means to sever the material and for energizing the accumulating means to place the accumulating means into the path of the material.

7. Apparatus for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a platform, a hollow shaft through which the material is passed secured to the platform, a ring gear secured to the hollow shaft, a plate mounted rotatably with respect to the hollow shaft, a secnd shaft secured to the plate for rotation thereon, a planetary gear secured to one end of the second shaft and designed to mesh with the ring gear, a capstan wheel secured to the other end of the second shaft, a plurality of sheaves secured to the plate for rotation about their axes and adjacent to the periphery of the capstan wheel,

a belt wound endlessly around the sheaves and in contact with the peripheral surface of the capstan wheel, means for directing the material between the belt and the periphery of the capstan wheel after the material passes through the hollow shaft, and means for revolving the capstan wheel and the sheaves about the axis of the hollow shaft.

8. Apparatus for continuously distributing a predetermined amount of filamentary material into each of a succession of containers in coil form, which comprises a capstan for continuously advancing a length of the material, means for causing at least those portions of the capstan which are last to contact the material to revolve about a given axis so that the material advanced by the capstan is continuously distributed in a descending helical path into coil form in a first container positioned stationarily beneath said capstan in a material-receiving position, cutting means positioned adjacent to the point where the material leaves the capstan, accumulating means positioned between said capstan and the first container, means for actuating said cutting means and said accumulating means when a predetermined amount of the material has been distributed into the first container, whereby said cutting means sever the advancing material and succeeding portions thereof are accumulated in coil form by said accumulating means, so that the first container may be removed and a second container placed in material-receiving position, and means for deactuating said accumulating means to permit the accumlated coil to drop into the second container, whereupon further portions of the filamentary material may be coiled therein.

9. A belt-type capstan for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a rotatable capstan wheel engaging the material, gripper belt means for holding the material against the capstan wheel over an arc on the periphery thereof so that the material is fed into space upon rotation of the capstan wheel, means for rotating the capstan wheel to feed the material, and means for revolving at least portions of the belt-type capstan about the axis of the coil to be formed in such a manner that the last point of contact between the gripper belt means and the capstan wheel revolves about that axis in the direction opposite to that in which the material is being fed and at substantially the same speed that the material is being fed, so that the material is distributed along a descending helical path to form a coil.

10. A belt-type capstan for distributing filamentary material into the form of a coil, which comprises a rotatable capstan wheel engaging the material, a plurality of sheaves mounted in spaced relationship to each other near the capstan wheel for rotation about their individual axes, an endless belt wound around the sheaves and engaging the peripheral surface of the capstan wheel for holding the material in driving contact with the capstan wheel over an are on the periphery thereof, means for rotating the capstan wheel to feed the material, and means for revolving the sheaves around the periphery of the capstan wheel in the direction opposite to that in which the capstan is rotating so that the material is distributed along a descending helical path to form a coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,827 Gibbs June 20, 1916 1,931,860 Cherry Oct. 24, 1933 1,995,498 Dempsey et a1. Mar. 26, 1935 2,149,851 MacLeod Mar. 7, 1939 2,216,224 Bruestle Oct. 1, 1940 2,629,564 Bell Feb. 24, 1953 2,630,618 Sewell Mar. 10, 1953 

